Outsmart Diabetes with Healthy Habits

Health Conditions

Many people are learning that they, or a loved one, are at risk for diabetes. Some have already been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Prevention and blood sugar monitoring are the best options for a long, vital life according to most medical experts. In fact, most studies show that an intensive lifestyle intervention was most effective in overweight adults. As you might guess, nutrition and physical activity are important keys to prevention and management of diabetes, along with medical monitoring. In the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, a modest weight loss of about 5 percent and physical activity of at least 150 minutes a week reduced the incidence of diabetes by 58%...

Perhaps encouraging family and community groups to eat well and exercise might be an easy way to help reduce the rising “diabesity” (diabetes related to obesity) problem. Exercise should be an integral part of the treatment plan for all persons with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Exercise helps all people with diabetes control weight, improve insulin sensitivity, bring about a healthier mental outlook and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Given appropriate guidelines, people with diabetes can exercise safely.

Many people are learning that they, or a loved one, are at risk for diabetes. Some have already been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

The exercise plan will vary depending on interest, age, general health, and level of physical fitness. Some simple solutions to increase physical activity are to add an after dinner stroll around the neighborhood, walk to accomplish local errands instead of jumping into the car to go a few blocks, use the stairs instead of elevators and find a new sport to enjoy with friends and family. Once you find an exercise that you enjoy, exercise is fun and no longer needs to be dreaded. The key is to find an activity, such as walking, running, hiking or biking, which can be incorporated into even the most hectic lifestyle.

Pre-Diabetes Calls for Action
It is estimated that 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes - blood sugar levels that are higher than normal. Pre-diabetes is strongly associated to obesity. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that it would be cost-effective for society to try to prevent diabetes in people who are diagnosed as pre-diabetic or insulin resistant.

Healthy habits such as diet and exercise can at least delay, if not completely prevent, type 2 diabetes from striking you or a loved one. In insulin-resistant people and those with type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up to dangerous levels in the blood. A variety of options exist to help lower your blood sugar levels but the most important decision should be to make changes in your eating and physical activity habits that you will be able to maintain for the rest of your life.

Many people are learning that they, or a loved one, are at risk for diabetes. Some have already been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Another consideration is to incorporate Smart Supplementation into your healthy lifestyle habits. With lifestyle changes, adoption of healthy habits and medical treatment, your blood sugar levels may go down to normal again. However, this does not mean you are cured. Instead, a blood sugar level in your target range shows that your treatment plan is working and that you are taking care of your diabetes.

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